JOB SUMMARY:
The Senior Manager, High School Success and Teacher Development manages the programs and services associated with implementation and continuous support for teachers, schools, and districts who are using the AOPA Foundation STEM Aviation Curriculum. This position works directly with educators, school administrators, and aviation program stakeholders nationwide to help establish, sustain, and enhance high-quality aviation and aerospace education programs.
The Senior Manager leads the AOPA Foundation Teacher Trainer Program and works closely with curriculum, operations, outreach, and events staff to ensure that teacher training, curriculum support, and program resources are effective, timely, and aligned with the needs of educators and students.
The Senior Manager also coordinates the customer service efforts in support of teachers, schools, districts, and other stakeholders who are users of the curriculum.
In addition, the Senior Manager collaborates closely with curriculum development personnel to support new course development, curriculum updates, educator training resources, and quality assurance processes that maintain the AOPA Foundation's standards for educational excellence.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Aviation Program Implementation and Growth Support (25%)
Serve as the primary point of contact for approved aviation education programs, providing ongoing communication, support, and engagement following initial onboarding to the curriculum.
Help schools identify appropriate implementation strategies, address program challenges, and connect curriculum use to broader aviation, aerospace, STEM, and Career and Technical Education goals.
Share best practices gathered from schools and educators across the AOPA Foundation High School Aviation STEM Curriculum program network on implementation, student recruitment, and program success.
Consult with teachers, administrators, district leaders, and other education stakeholders through online meetings, phone calls, and email correspondence.
Travel periodically to support meetings, presentations, workshops, school visits, and aviation education events.
Teacher Development and Implementation Success (25%)
Serve as a primary point of contact for curriculum teachers seeking guidance and support.
Provide ongoing support to AOPA Foundation High School Aviation STEM Curriculum teachers through online meetings, phone calls, email correspondence, and other appropriate communication channels.
Guide teachers through problem-solving conversations related to curriculum implementation, classroom instruction, student engagement, pacing, resources, and program sustainability.
Develop, maintain, and distribute resources that help teachers effectively implement the curriculum in their classrooms.
Identify recurring teacher needs, implementation challenges, and opportunities for additional resources or professional learning.
Collect and manage data on the effectiveness of teacher success and professional development programs for program evaluation and continuous improvement.
Collaborate with curriculum developers, operations staff, and other team members to ensure teacher-facing resources are accurate, useful, accessible, and aligned with AOPA Foundation program standards.
Support the development of a strong educator community by encouraging the sharing of promising practices, classroom strategies, and implementation examples.
Manage and moderate the AOPA Foundation Curriculum community groups by creating engaging content, facilitating educator collaboration, responding to member inquiries, and promoting program resources and professional development opportunities. Collect and communicate teacher feedback, monitor community engagement, and support educator success through an active and positive online community.
Teacher Trainer Program Leadership (40%)
Lead the AOPA Foundation Teacher Trainer Program (TtT), including trainer selection, development, scheduling, support, and ongoing program evaluation and improvement.
Identify, evaluate, select, onboard, and train qualified certified teacher trainers.
Develop and deliver training for teacher trainers to ensure consistent, high-quality delivery of AOPA Foundation Teacher Workshops.
Select and schedule teacher trainers to deliver AOPA Foundation Teacher Workshops and related professional learning experiences.
Manage trainer contracting, compensation, expense reimbursements, and related administrative processes in coordination with appropriate internal departments.
Monitor trainer performance, gather feedback from trainers and workshop participants, and recommend improvements to strengthen the quality and consistency of teacher training experiences.
Curriculum Development and AOPA Foundation Aviation Education Symposium Support (10%)
Assist with quality control and quality assurance processes for courses, teacher training curriculum, workshop materials, and other educator-facing content.
Communicate teacher and trainer feedback to Curriculum Developers and other internal stakeholders to inform continuous improvement.
Collaborate with supervisors, peers, contractors, and subject matter experts to ensure curriculum and training materials meet AOPA Foundation standards for educational excellence.
Support the annual AOPA Foundation Aviation Education Symposium by collaborating with supervisors, peers, and stakeholders to assist with developing the agenda and content.
Help identify timely and relevant topics for an audience of educators, school administrators, aviation industry representatives, and other stakeholders.
Assist with identifying, recruiting, and securing speakers, presenters, panelists, and workshop leaders.
Contribute educator, curriculum, and training perspectives to help ensure Symposium content is useful, current, and aligned with the needs of aviation education programs.
Support planning discussions and content development related to teacher professional learning, curriculum implementation, aviation program growth, and educator engagement.
**Although this job description aims to capture the majority of the position duties, other duties may be assigned based on business and departmental needs.
REQUIRED JOB QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor's degree in education, aviation, STEM, curriculum and instruction, educational leadership, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
Seven or more years of experience in education, curriculum implementation, teacher professional development, aviation education, program management, or a related field.
Experience working with teachers, school administrators, districts, or educational organizations.
Experience developing or supporting teacher training, professional learning, instructional resources, curriculum implementation, or educator support programs.
Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively with educators, administrators, internal staff, contractors, and external stakeholders.
Strong facilitation, presentation, consultation, and relationship-building skills.
Strong project management, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365, virtual meeting platforms, and common digital collaboration tools.
Ability to travel up to 20% of the time.
PREFERRED JOB QUALIFICATIONS:
Master's degree in education, curriculum and instruction, educational leadership, aviation, STEM, or a related field.
Current or former classroom teaching experience.
Experience with high school aviation, aerospace, STEM, or Career and Technical Education programs.
Experience with curriculum development, instructional design, lesson planning, assessment development, or educational quality assurance.
Experience selecting, training, scheduling, supporting, or managing trainers, contractors, consultants, or facilitators.
Knowledge of aviation, aerospace, flight training, uncrewed aircraft systems, or related aviation career pathways.
FAA pilot certificate, remote pilot certificate, or other aviation-related credential.
Experience planning or supporting conferences, workshops, Symposium-style events, or educator professional development events.
Public speaking experience.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
This position works in an office setting.
Typical working hours are 8:30 am – 5 pm, Monday through Friday, with a one-hour lunch break.
Generally, a climate-controlled environment with occasional exposure to outdoor weather conditions when attending aviation-related events, including exposure to higher altitudes and confined spaces if in a general aviation aircraft.
This position requires some travel, up to 20% of the time, to various general aviation or industry-related events. Travel is by aircraft (general aviation and commercial) and by road or public transit.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands of this position are typical of a standard office environment. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will regularly be required to:
Sit for extended periods while working at a computer or attending meetings.
Use hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard, mouse, and other office equipment.
Communicate effectively via email, phone, and in-person, which requires clear speech, hearing, and vision.
Occasionally lift or move items weighing up to 15 pounds, such as boxes of materials or equipment.
Occasionally stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms during the course of normal office activities.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
This position is located at AOPA’s Frederick, MD, office.
The annual salary for this position is: $85,000 - $92,000, depending on education and experience.
BENEFIT INFORMATION:
Flight Training (earn your Private Pilot License for free) & Annual Flight Proficiency Program (so you can keep flying and remain proficient)
Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance is available for employees and their dependents the 1st of the month following their start date
Flexible Spending Plans
Health Savings Plan with employer contribution (for eligible participants)
401(k) Retirement Plan with a company match, and annual discretionary supplemental employer contribution
Company paid Short and Long-term Disability Insurance
Company paid Life Insurance and AD&D insurance with the option to buy up
Paid Time Off (PTO): 17 days accrued during first year (accruals increase based on tenure)
Paid Holidays: 12 holidays
Personal days: 3 (prorated based on hire date)
Volunteer day: 1 (prorated based on hire date)
Work From Home Fridays
Paid Parental Leave
AOPA Membership
Employee Assistance Program
Wellness Program (earn medical insurance premium discounts)
Gym Reimbursement Program
Supplemental insurance options (critical illness, accident, hospital indemnity)
Tuition Reimbursement Program
Discount on AOPA swag
Business casual dress code
Free coffee, tea, hot cocoa